You can trigger a five-figure Medicare premium increase with a single large taxable event. And not see the IRMAA Surcharge bill until two years later.
This IRMAA calculator puts that delayed “tax bomb” on a chart.
Enter your filing status, baseline MAGI, and one-time events (Roth conversions, capital gains, QCDs) to see projected MAGI and the resulting IRMAA surcharge for 2026–2028.
Use the tool, interpret the results, and follow the next-step reading to protect your Medicare premium plan.
What You’ll Learn
- How to run scenarios (Roth conversions, gains, QCDs) and visualize IRMAA effects.
- How Medicare uses prior-year MAGI to set Part B and Part D surcharges.
- Practical moves to reduce IRMAA risk and when to appeal.
- The exact follow-up reading order on michaelryanmoney.com for deeper planning.
Key Takeaways Ahead
The Michael Ryan Money IRMAA Calculator – Estimate Your Medicare Surcharge
IRMAA shouldn’t require a PhD in tax law. Yet every year, thousands of Medicare beneficiaries get blindsided by premium surcharges ranging from $1,464 to $5,952 annually. Simply because their income crossed an invisible threshold by $1.
Understanding IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount)
These surcharges don’t show up until two years after the income event that triggered them, creating a financial trap for retirees managing Roth conversions, stock sales, or Required Minimum Distributions.
The Michael Ryan Money IRMAA Calculator removes the guesswork from Medicare premium planning. This interactive tool lets you model exactly how strategic financial decisions. Like timing a Roth IRA conversion, selling appreciated assets, or making Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) will impact your future Medicare costs.
Unlike generic retirement calculators that ignore the IRMAA cliff effect, this simulator shows your projected Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) alongside corresponding surcharge tiers for 2026-2028, giving you a 3-year financial roadmap.
So go ahead. Play around with the numbers. What impact may the changes you make have on your situation?
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Why This Matters:
Medicare Part B premiums operate on a bracket system with five surcharge tiers, and the lookback period creates a delayed consequence that catches even experienced advisors off guard. A $50,000 Roth conversion in 2025 doesn’t just increase your 2025 taxes—it inflates your 2027 Medicare premiums by potentially $2,952 if you jump two tiers.
Slide or type values to test how Roth conversions, capital gains, and QCDs affect MAGI and Medicare surcharges two years later.
Step 1 — Baseline MAGI
Step 2 — One-time 2025 Events
Step 3 — Projection (chart + table)
| IRMAA Year | Income Year | Projected MAGI | IRMAA Tier | Monthly Surcharge | Annual Surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2024 | $150,000 | Tier 1 | $0 | $0 |
| 2027 (What-If) | 2025 | $150,000 | Tier 1 | $0 | $0 |
| 2028 | 2026 | $150,000 | Tier 1 | $0 | $0 |
The calculator’s real-time visualization shows these multi-year ripple effects instantly, helping you optimize the timing and size of financial moves to avoid unnecessary surcharges
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How To Interpret The Medicare IRMAA Calculator Results
- Projected MAGI (line):
- shows your taxable income level for the income year used to set the IRMAA year. If the line crosses a bracket threshold, that’s your first warning.
- Annual IRMAA surcharge (bars):
- shows the annual extra cost in dollars for Medicare Part B + D based on the tier. Multiply monthly by 12 for the annual effect (the chart shows annual already).
- Key signals to watch for:
- A jump of 1 tier often costs several hundred dollars a year. Multiple-tier jumps can cost thousands.
- Roth conversions and capital gains in year X affect Medicare premiums in year X+2. QCDs reduce MAGI and can lower or avoid a tier jump.
- Quick decision rule:
- if a one-time tax event pushes projected MAGI into the next IRMAA bracket, consider spreading the income or using QCDs to offset it.
Common Reader Questions (And Short Answers)
Are these official SSA calculations?
No! This is a planning tool that uses public IRMAA brackets to estimate surcharge tiers.
For official amounts or disputes, use SSA and your Medicare notice.
If my MAGI spikes, can I appeal IRMAA?
Yes. The SSA accepts appeals using Form SSA-44 for life-changing events (or other circumstances). See “IRMAA appeal form SSA-44 guide” for step-by-step help.
Which income items count toward IRMAA MAGI?
Mostly taxable income plus tax-exempt interest. For a full list and examples, read “What income counts toward IRMAA MAGI?”.
If I’m worried, what are my best moves?
Spread Roth conversions across low-income years, harvest losses to offset gains, use QCDs when eligible, and time distributions to avoid bracket thresholds. See “How to avoid IRMAA Medicare surcharges”.
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Further Recommended Reading Order
- Start: Understanding brackets & timing
- “IRMAA brackets and Medicare surcharges” foundational: what brackets are and how Medicare uses MAGI.
- Mechanics:
- “How Medicare calculates IRMAA premium surcharge” exact mechanics and timeline.
- Planning moves:
- “IRMAA: Medicare premium planning” strategies to avoid shocks.
- Tactical playbook:
- “How to avoid IRMAA Medicare surcharges” practical tactics (QCDs, timing).
- Appeals & fixes:
- “IRMAA appeal form SSA-44 guide” and “IRMAA appeals life-changing event tool” when to fight and how.
- Deep dives:
- “Part D IRMAA income impact — drug premiums” and “Medicare Part B premium IRMAA control” specialized topics.
- Data & tools:
- “IRMAA timeline — Medicare brackets” and “IRMAA calculator — Medicare surcharge (tool page)” reference pages and this tool.
- I’m also including for broader reading: Michael Ryan Money Medicare Resource Page.
Take Control of Your Medicare Costs Before They Control You
Medicare surcharges aren’t inevitable, they’re manageable with proper planning. The Michael Ryan Money Medicare IRMAA Calculator transforms abstract tax strategies into concrete dollar impacts, showing you exactly what a $30,000 Roth conversion or $100,000 capital gain will cost in Medicare premiums two years down the road. This visibility turns reactive tax planning into proactive premium optimization, potentially saving you thousands annually while still accomplishing your financial goals.
The two-year lookback creates opportunity: Because IRMAA uses income from two years prior, you have a predictable window to engineer low-MAGI years through strategic QCDs, loss harvesting, or spreading large distributions. Use this calculator during annual tax planning meetings to model different scenarios before executing irreversible decisions like Roth conversions or asset sales. Even small adjustments—converting $45,000 instead of $50,000, or offsetting gains with a $20,000 QCD—can keep you below the next threshold tier.
Your action items:
- Run your baseline 2024-2025 income through the calculator to identify your current IRMAA trajectory.
- Model any planned financial moves (conversions, real estate sales, pension lump sums) to quantify their Medicare impact.
- If you’re approaching a threshold, explore offsetting strategies like QCDs (for donors 70½+) or timing flexibility.
- Remember, the SSA-44 appeal process exists for life-changing events (divorce, retirement, loss of income), so document major changes that reduce your MAGI.
Could You Qualify for an IRMAA Appeal?
See if you're eligible to reduce your Medicare premiums with our free interactive tool
Bottom line:
The average Medicare couple pays $4,956 annually in Part B premiums at standard rates—but can pay up to $16,860 in the highest IRMAA tier. That $11,904 difference is controllable income planning, not bad luck.
Use this calculator to become the client who asks smarter questions, catches advisor oversights, and keeps more of your retirement savings where it belongs. Funding your lifestyle, not avoidable surcharges.
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Note: The content provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or legal advice. Consult with a professional advisor or accountant for personalized guidance.
